Police: Hartland High School student was 'huffing' at time of crash

Security guard hurt in accident at Hartland High School

The Livingston County Sheriff's Department Traffic Safety Bureau has determined a 16-year-old Harland High School student involved in an accident which hurt a school security officer was "huffing" moments before the crash.

What happened prior to the crash

Police said the teenager was "huffing" a household cleaning product from an aerosol can prior to the crash. The cleaner was provided to the driver by his 15-year-old passenger. While the driver was operating the vehicle he lost consciousness from "huffing" and began accelerating towards Susan Hazzard, the security officer that was directing traffic in the parking lot.

The passenger attempted to take control of the vehicle and avoid another vehicle and Hazzard. Hazzard was subsequently struck at approximately 45 miles per hour by the vehicle.

--Susan Hazzard was injured in the May 15th accident

Susan Hazzard's recovery

Hazzard has since been released from the hospital and has begun the extensive recovery process.

The driver and passenger of the vehicle are not being identified because they are juveniles.

The report will be forwarded to the Livingston County Prosecutor’s Office for review of reckless driving causing serious injury, possession of marijuana and use of inhalant charges. The toxicology report from a legal blood draw of the driver is still pending analysis.

What is huffing?

According to Inhalant.org inhalant abuse refers to the deliberate inhalation or sniffing of common products found in homes and communities with the purpose of "getting high." Inhalants are easily accessible, legal, everyday products. Inhalants are addictive and are considered to be "gateway" drugs because children often progress from inhalants to illegal drug and alcohol abuse. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that one in five American teens have used Inhalants to get high.

There are more than a 1,400 products which are potentially dangerous when inhaled, such as typewriter correction fluid, air conditioning coolant, gasoline, propane, felt tip markers, spray paint, air freshener, butane, cooking spray, paint, and glue. Most are common products that can be found in the home, garage, office, school or as close as the local convenience store.

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